Snap acting electrical switch construction having reset means

ABSTRACT

A snap blade carried by a housing means and having an opening means passing therethrough, an actuator member interconnected to said snap blade to cause the snap blade to snap to different positions thereof as the actuating member is moved relative to the housing means for an electrical switching function. The actuating member is disposed in the opening means of the blade and has opposed ends extending from opposite sides thereof. A cup-shaped plunger member receives one of the ends of the actuator member in the open end thereof and has abutment means extending from the open end and being received in the opening means of the blade to provide for manual reset of the switch construction. The housing means comprises a body member and a cover member, the body member having four like terminal mounting slots arranged in annular fashion therein and each being adapted to receive a contact carrying terminal.

Korsgren [54] SNAP ACTING ELECTRICAL SWITCH 1 June 6, 1972 1,386,750 12/1964 France ..200/83.9 UX CONSTRUCTION HAVING RESET OTHER PUBLICATIONS MEANS Stumpf, Ger. Pub]. No. I, 1 86,128, publ. l- 65 [72] Inventor: Theodore Y. Korsgren, Orange, Conn. [73] Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company, Primary SmithJr- Richmond Attorney-Auzvdle Jackson, Jr., Robert L. Marben and Candor, Candor & Tassone [22] Filed: Jan. 19, 1970 [2]] App]. No.: 3,833 [57] ABSTRACT A snap blade carried by a housing means and having an opening means passing therethrough, an actuator member inter- [52] 200/67 200/83 connected to said snap blade to cause the snap blade to snap CI. t ..I-IOlh to diflrerent positions h e as the actuating m e is [58] Field of Search ..200/67 DA, 67 D, 76, 83.9, moved relative to the housing means for an electrical 200/83 WM switching function. The actuating member is disposed in the opening means of the blade and has opposed ends extending References Cled from opposite sides thereof. A cup-shaped plunger member receives one of the ends of the actuator member in the open v UNITED STATES PATENTS end thereof and has abutment means extending from the open 2,519,297 8/1950 Stump, Jr. et alfl ..200/67 D end and being received in the Opening means of the blade I9 2 624 819 H1953 spina at a] loo/67 D Ux provide for manual reset of the switch construction. The houss oe 1 694 10/1962 Carlson ..200/67 D ux means mPrises a My membe' and a member the 3 267 232 8/1966 Chapin ..200/83 WM ux member having terminal "muming SW5 ranged in annular fashion therein and each being adapted to FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS receive a Contact Carrying terminall,060,305 l/ l 967 Great Britain ..200/76 16 Claims, 28 Drawing Figures 42C 66C 51c 54c 85 17o 89C I A #75. f 870 I 32c I69 31C 001 85C 43C 68C PATENTEnJux 6 I972 3. 668,347

INVENTOR.

THEODORE Y. KORSGREN BY M, M 3' 7 m HIS ATTORNEYS P'ATE'NTEnJuu 51972 3,668,347

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INVENTOR. THEODORE Y. KORSGREN 6%,, waiznm FlG.l4

HIS ATTORNEYS PATENTEuJun 51912 SHEET 4 OF 7 INVENTOR. THEODORE Y. KORSGREN FIG.|9 Z a HIS ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJUH 6 I972 SHEET 5 OF 7 INVENTOR. THEODORE Y. KORSG REN His ATTORNEYS PATENTEIJJun smz 3,668,347

' INVENTOR. THEODORE Y. KORSGREN MMYM HIS ATTORNEYS 'SNAP ACTING ELECTRICAL SWITCH CONSTRUCTION IIAVING. RESET MEANS This invention relates toan improved electrical switch construction and to improved parts for such a switch construction or the like.

It is well known that various snap blade constructions have been provided in the past wherein the snap blade carries electrical contact means which are snapped between various positions thereof by an actuator member acting on the snap blade.

It is one of the features of this invention to provide improved housing means for such a snap blade arrangement or the like.

Another feature of this invention is to provide improved actuating means for such a snap blade arrangement or the like.

In particular, one embodiment of this invention comprises a housing means carrying a snap blade having an opening means passing therethrough. An actuator member is interconnected to the snap blade to cause the blade to snap to different positions thereof as the actuator member is moved relative to the housing means. The actuator member is disposed in the opening means of the blade and has opposed ends extending from opposite 'sides thereof. A cup-shaped plunger member receives one of the ends of the actuator member in the open end thereof. The housing means has four like tenninal mounting slots arranged in equal distance, annul'a'r' fashion with each slot being adapted to receive a contact carrying terminal so that two pairs of spaced contacts can be provided to respectively receive end parts of the snap blade therebetween. In this manner, when the snap blade is snapped from one position thereof wherein the opposed end parts thereof are bridging two of the stationary contacts, the end parts will be disconnected from that pair of stationary contacts on one side of the snap blade and be moved into engagement to bridge the other pair of spaced contacts on the other side of the snap blade.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved electrical switch construction having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved parts for such an electrical switch construction or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages'of this invention are apparent froma reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the snap blade for the switch construction.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 and illustrates the snap blade assembled to an actuator member.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, side view illustrating the snap blade arrangement of FIG. 2 mounted in a housing means with the snap blade thereof disposed in one operating position thereof.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and illustrates the snap blade in another operating position thereof.

FIG. 5 is an end view illustrating the snap blade position of FIG. 3 in full lines and the snap blade position of FIG. 4 in phantom lines.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the improved electrical switch construction of this invention utilizing the snap blade arrangement of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a rear end view of the electrical switch construction of FIG. 6. v

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the switch construction of FIG. 7 and is taken on line 8--8 thereof.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of certain of the parts of the switch construction of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 8 and illus trates a contact arrangement on only one side of the snap blade. 7

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 and illustrates a contact arrangement only on the other side of the snap blade.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 10 and illustrates a terminal arrangement only on one side of the snap blade at one end thereof.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 and illustrates a terminal arrangement on the other side of the snap blade and at only one end thereof.

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 10 and illustrates a terminal arrangement on one side of the blade at one end thereof and at the other side of the blade at the other end thereof.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 15-15 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating a terminal of the switch construction of FIG. 6.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 17-17 of FIG. 7 andillustrating another terminal thereof.

FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 15 and illustrates a contact arrangement for the snap blade similar to FIG. 12 and is taken on line l8-l8 thereof.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 19-19 of FIG. 7 with the outwardly bent terminal thereof in flat condition before being bent outwardly.

FIG. 20 is a side view of a terminal for the switch construction of FIG. 6 which has its contact disposed on one side of the snap blade construction.

FIG. 21 is a view similar to FIG. 20 and illustrates the terminal for the switch construction of FIG. 6 with its contact being adapted to be disposed on the other side of the snap blade construction.

FIG. 22 is a view similar to FIG. 8 and illustrates another switch construction of this invention utilizing a different snap blade arrangement.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the snap blade and its actuator for the switch construction of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is a view similar to FIG. 8 and illustrates a pressure operator for operating the switch construction of FIG. 8.

FIG. 25 is a view similar to FIG. 8 and illustrates a temperature responsive means for operating the switch construction of FIG. 8.

FIG. 26 is a view similar to FIG. 8 and illustrates another switch construction of this invention utilizing a reset means.

FIG. 27 is a view similar to FIG. 26 illustrating the switch construction of FIG. 26 in another operating position thereof.

FIG. 28 is an exploded perspective view of certain parts of the switch construction of FIG. 26.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated asbeing particularly adapted to provide an arrangement for a snap blade construction or the like, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide other types of electrical switch constructions as desired, such as non-snap acting electrical switches.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate some of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an improved snap blade construction is generally indicated by the reference numeral 30 and comprises a snap blade 31 interconnected to an actuating member 32 to operate the snap blade 31 in a manner hereinafter described when the same is mounted in a housing means 33, schematically illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 and illustrated in detail in FIGS. 6 and 8, for providing an electrical switching operation as will be apparent hereinafter.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the snap blade 31 is a one-piece structure that can be stamped, etched or otherwise formed from a flat flexible metallic sheet so as to define two like end parts 34 and two substantially longitudinally disposed like side strips 35 spaced from each other and interconnected at adjacent pairs of ends thereof respectively to the end parts The side strips 35 respectively carry like fulcrum strips 36 directed toward each other and being disposed medially of the side strips 35 whereby the end parts 34, side strips 35 and fulcrum strips 36 are all integrally interconnected and are all disposed in the same plane before the snap blade 31 is assembled to the actuating member 32 in a manner hereinafter set forth.

Each end part 34 of the snap blade 31 has a substantially semi-circular projection 38 directed toward the other projection 38, each projection 38 having an opening 40 passing therethrough to permit an electrical contact arrangement to be respectively secured to the end parts 34. For example, the electrical contact means interconnected to the end parts 34 of the blade 31 can be substantially U-shaped metallic members 42 and 43 as illustrated in FIG. 8 so as to provide electrical contacts on both sides of the blade 31 at each end part 34 thereof, the legs of each U-shaped contact member 42 or 43 being fastened together through their respective openings 40 of the end part 34 of the blade 31.

Each fulcrumstrip 36 of the snap blade 31 has opposed concave side edges 44 oppositely facing each other and being interconnected toa substantially rectangularly shaped free end 45 of the fulcrum strip 36wherein one side edge 46 of the rectangular part 45 of the particular fulcrum strip 36 faces the other straight side edge/46 of the other fulcrum strip 36.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the snap blade 31 when initially formed from a fiat piece of metallic material, is so shaped that the side strips 35 are slightly bowed with elbows 37 in the medial portion thereof respectively facing each other and being joined to their respective fulcrum trips 36. If desired, the straight edges 46 of the fulcrum strips 36 can be relieved by semi-circular cutouts 39.

The actuating member 32 of the snap blade 31 is substantially rectangular in transverse cross section and has a pair of grooves 47 and 48 respectively formed across the opposed sides 49 and 50 thereof, each groove 47 or 48 having a substantially V-shaped cross-sectional configuration and being disposed spaced from each other a distance to cause their respective fulcrum members 36 to spread apart when the free edges 46 thereof are respectively received in the grooves 47 and 48 as illustrated in FIGS. 2-5 to not only interconnect the snap blade 31 to the actuating member 32, but also to cause the fulcrum strips 36 and the side strips 35 to warp and tend to assume either the configuration illustrated in FIG. 3 or the configuration illustrated in FIG. 4 relative to the actuating member 32 while being movable between the positions of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 with a snap action as will be apparent hereinafter. The spreading apart of the fulcrum strips 36 of the snap blade 31 by the actuating member 32 also causes the side strips 35 to straighten out the elbows 37 thereof when looking down on the assembled blade 31 in FIG. 2 so that the force of the side strips 35 tending to return to the configuration of FIG. 1 maintains the fulcrum strips 36 in the grooves 47 and 48 of the actuating member 32 during the snapping of the blade 31 relative to the actuating member 32.

The snap blade arrangement 30 of FIG. 2 can be utilized in the housing means 33 of this invention which is illustrated in FIG. 8 as comprising a cup-shaped body member 51 having an open end 52 and a closed end 53 and a cover member 54 adapted to close the open end 52 of the body member 51 in any suitable manner, such as by being adhesively secured in place as illustrated in FIG. 8.

The body member 51 as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and has four terminal slots 55, 56, 57, and 58 passing therethrough and respectively interrupting an annular surface or shoulder 59 of the body member 33 at one end thereof and joining recesses 60 at the other ends thereof whereby four contact carrying terminals 61, 62, 63, and 64 can be respectively disposed in the terminal receiving slots 55-58 as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 15 to provide two pairs of spaced contacts 65, 66 and 67, 68 adapted to respectively receive the opposed end parts 34 of the snap blade 31 therebetween as illustrated in FIG. 8.

In particular, the terminals 62 and 64 that respectively carry the contacts 67 and 65 that are disposed to the left of the snap blade 31 in FIG. 8 can be of the configuration illustrated in FIG. 21 except that the contact portions thereof would be oppositely arranged as illustrated in FIG. 15. As illustrated in FIG. 21, the terminal 64 comprises a substantially fiat member shaped in the configuration illustrated and carrying a shelf portion 77 at one end thereof to provide the contact means disposed substantially perpendicular to the main body portion of the terminal 64. The terminal 64 is suitably cut away to define opposed shoulders 78 that are adapted to respectively.

abut against cooperating shoulder means 71 formed in the body member 51 as illustrated in FIG. 19 for each terminal receiving slot 55-58 so as to limit movement of that particular terminal 64 in its movement to the right in the drawings relative to the housing means 33. I

A pair of opposed notches 72 are formed in the terminal 64 inten'nediate the shoulders 78 and the right-hand free end 79 of the terminal 64 to readily permit the right-hand free end 79 of the ten-ninal 64 to be bent at an angle out of the recess 60 of the body portion 51 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, as well as FIG. 17, if desired. 1

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, each recess 60 of the body portion 51 of the housing means 33 has a pair of spaced grooves 74 at each side thereof so that when the particular terminal is assembled to the body member 51, portions 75 thereof adjacent the notches 72 can be staked downwardly into the grooves 74 as illustrated in FIG. 17 to securely fasten the particular terminal thereto against a cooperating shoulder means 76 of the body member 51 so as to prevent movement of the particular terminal in a leftward direction relative to the housing means 33. t

The terminals 61 and 63 which respectively have their contacts 66 and 68 disposed to the right of the snap blade 31 as illustrated in FIG. 8 are formed in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 20 except that the contact carrying portions 66 or 68 thereof are oppositely arranged as illustrated in FIG. 15. Thus,

only the terminal 61 is illustrated in FIG. 20 and it can be seen that the same has a perpendicularly disposed shelf portion 69 carrying the contact portion 66 thereof, shoulder means for abutting shoulder means of the body member 51 of the housing means 33, portions for staking into the grooves 74 of the particular recess 60 and a right-hand free end 73 for being exposed to the exterior of the housing means 33 for a lead attachment thereto. I

Accordingly, it can be seen that the body portionSl of the housing means 33 can receive four terminals respectively in the terminal slots 55-58 thereof to provide the contact arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 15 so that when the snap blade 31 is disposed in the positionfillustrated in FIG. 8, the conductive snap blade 31 provides an electrical circuit between the contacts 66 and 68 and, thus, between the terminals 61 and 63. However, when the snap blade 31 has the end parts 34 thereof snapped to the left to be disposed in electrical contact with the contacts 65 and 67, the electrical circuit is provided between the terminals 62 and 64.

The cover member 54 of the housing means 33 has an opening 80 passing centrally therethrough with the opening 80 having splining grooves 81 disposed about the same to respectively receive spline projections 82 on a cup-shaped plunger 1 member 83 which projects through the opening 80 of the cover member 54 and has a disc-like shoulder means 84 adapted to abut against an inside abutment 85 of the cover member 54 as illustrated in FIG. 8 to limit movement of the plunger 83 to the left relative to the housing means 33. The disc-like abutment 84 of the plunger 83 has two tongues 85 adapted to be respectively received in the opening 86 of the snap blade 31 that is defined between the side strips 35 thereof on each side of the fulcrum strips 36. The tongues 85 straddle the actuator member 32 as illustrated in FIG. 8 and the lefthand end 87 of the actuator member 32 is received in the free 5 end 88 of the plunger 83 as illustrated in FIG. 8, the free end 87 of the actuating member 32 abutting against the closed end surface 89 of the plunger 83.

The right-hand free end 90 of the actuating member 32 is reduced to define shoulder means 91 to the right of the snap blade 31 and against which a spring retainer 92 can abut while receiving the reduced portion 90 in an opening 93 thereof as illustrated in FIG. 8.

The closed end 53 of the body member 51 of the housing means 33 has a stepped bore 94 passing therethrough with the intermediate portion 95 thereof being serrated to respectively cooperate with serrations on an internally hat-shaped member 96 disposed in the stepped bore 94 and having its disc-like portion 97 abutting against a shoulder 98 of the body portion 51 as illustrated in FIG. 8. A threaded adjusting member 99 is threaded into the hat-shaped member 96 as illustrated in FIG. 8 so that its right-hand free end 100 will be exposed at the exterior of the housing means 33 and can be readily adjusted relative to the housing means 33 by inserting a screwdriver or the like in the bifurcated end 100 and rotating the same relative to the housing means 33 whereby the left-hand end 101 of the adjusting member 33 .can be moved inwardly and outwardly relative to the housing means 33. The left-hand end 101 of the adjusting member 99 has a cylindrical projection 102 extending therefrom adapted to be received in an opening 103 of another hat-shaped spring retainer 104 having its disclike portion 105 bearing against the end 101 of the adjusting member 99.

In this manner, a compression spring 106 can be disposed between retainers 92 and 104 so as to have one end 107 thereof bearing against the disc-like portion 108 of the lefthand spring retainer 92 and its other end 109 bearing against the disc-like portion 105 of the right-hand spring retainer 104 whereby the force of the compression spring 106 tends to maintain the plunger 83 and actuating member 32 to the left as illustrated in FIG. 8 with the snap blade 31 in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 8 to normally bridge the terminals 61 and 63.

However, when the plunger 83 is moved to the right in FIG. 8 a certain amount in opposition to the force of the compression spring 106, and upwardly in FIG. 4, the snap blade 31 snaps over center and causes the end portions 34 thereof to move downwardly in FIG. 4 and to the left in FIG. 8 so as to respectively move out of electrical contact with the contacts 66 and 68 and into electrical contact with the contacts 65 and 67 to provide an electrical circuit between the terminals 62 and 64. As long as the plunger 83 is held to the right in FIG. 8, the snap blade 31 provides the circuit between the terminals 62 and 64. However, when the plunger 83 is released, the force of the compression spring 106 moves the actuating member 32 and plunger 83 back to the left as illustrated in FIG. 8 to cause the snap blade 31 to snap over center and move the end parts 34 thereof away from the contacts 65 and 67 and intocontact with the contacts 66 and 68 to again bridge the terminals 61 and 63.

Therefore, it can be seen that the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 8 provides a double pole, double throw arrangement depending upon the position of the actuating member 32 relative to the snap blade 31.

However, the body member 51 and cover member 54 of the housing means 33 when being initially formed, such as being molded from plastic material or the like, can be respectively provided with integral stop means, such as stop means projections 110 on the inside surface of the cover member 54 as illustrated in FIG. 11 in four equal distant positions and stop means 11 1 projecting from the surface 59 of the body member 51 in four equal distant positions thereon.

In this manner, the particular stop means 110 and 111 of the cover member 54 and body member 51 of the housing means 33 can be cut off where desired so as to permit a particular terminal to have its contact replace the same so that various switching functions can be provided for the particular switch means.

For example, when viewing FIG. 10, the stop means 111 on the body member 51 are left in place while the cooperating stop means 110 on the cover member 54 are removed so that only two fixed contacts 65 and 67 are provided for the particular switch construction of FIG. whereby the snap blade 31 will interconnect the contacts 65 and 67 when the plunger 83 is moved to the right in FIG. 10 a certain amount in the manner previously described, the snap blade 31 normally having its end parts 34 disposed against the stop means 111 of the body member 33 so that no electrical circuit is created through the switch construction.

Alternately, the stop means of the cover member 54 can be left in place as illustrated in FIG. 11 while the stop means 111 of the body member 51 are removed to receive the fixed contacts 66 and 68 which are normally bridged by the snap blade 31 until the plunger 83 is moved to the right in FIG. 11 to cause the end parts 34 thereof to snap away from the fixed contacts 66 and 68 against the stop means 110 of the cover member 54.

As illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 18, two terminals 112 and 113 are respectively disposed in the terminal slots 55 and 58 and have the shelf portions 114 and 115 thereof disposed on the same side of the snap blade 31 and so arranged that the same are in side-by-side relation and not in overlapping relation whereby the end part 34 of the snap blade 31 is normally disposed in bridging relation across the contact portions 114 and 115 of the terminals 112 and 113 as illustrated in FIG. 12 with the other end part thereof being disposed against a nonremoved stop means 111 of the body member 51 as illustrated in FIG. 12. Thus, when the plunger 83 in FIG. 12 is moved to the right, the end parts 34 of the snap blade 31 snap to the left against the stop means 110 of the cover member 54 so as to disconnect the circuit between the terminals 112 and 113.

Alternately, such terminals 112 and 113 can have the shelf portions 114 and 115 thereof disposed on the other side of the snap blade 51 as illustrated in FIG. 13 in place of the stop means 110 on the cover member 54 so that the end parts 34 of the snap blade 31 are normally disposed against the stop means 111 of the body member 51 and no electrical circuit is created through the switch construction. However, when the plunger 83 is moved to the right in FIG. 13, the same causes the end parts 34 of the snap blade 31 to snap to the left with the upper part 34 thereof as illustrated in FIG. 13 bridging the two terminals disposed on the left side of the snap blade 31 and with the lower part 34 thereof being disposed against the stop means 1 10 of the cover member 54.

Thus, it can be seen that the basic body member 51 and cover member 54 of the housing means 33 of this invention can be utilized to provide many different switching functions by merely changing the stop means 111 and 110 thereof and utilizing the particular. terminal means for the desired switching function. Further, the various parts of the switch construction cannot be assembled together in the wrong position thereof because the non-removed stop means 110 and 111 will prevent incorrect assembly thereof if the cover member 54 and body member 51 are not assembled in the proper rotational position thereof.

While the various switch constructions previously described have been illustrated as utilizing the snap blade construction 30 of FIG. 2 which forms the subject matter of applicant's copending patent application, Ser. No. 3,599, filed concurrently-with this application, Jan. 19, 1970, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized with other types of snap blade constructions.

For example, reference is now made to FIGS. 22 and 23 wherein another snap blade construction is generally indicated -by the reference numeral 116 and is of the type fully disclosed and claimed in the US. Pat. No. 3,354,274, to Bauer, issued Nov. 21, 1967, whereby only sufficient details thereof will now be described in order to fully disclose its operation in the housing means 33 of this invention.

In particular, the snap blade construction 116 of FIGS. 22 and 23 comprises a snap'blade 117 having opposed end parts 118 respectively carrying contact means 119 on opposed sides thereof to cooperate with the opposed pairs of spaced contact means 65, 66 and 67, 68 of the housing means 33 illustrated in FIG. jecting from the opposed end parts 118 Thereof and respectively interconnected to bent tongues 12] of an actuating member 122 receiving the snap blade 117 in a cutout 123 thereof whereby movement of the actuating member 122 downwardly in FIG. 23 and to the right in FIG. 22by the 22. The blade 117 has fulcrum legs respectively promodified plunger means 124 illustrated in FIG. 22 in opposition to the force of the compression spring 106 bearing against the actuating member 122 will cause the end parts 118 thereof to snap to the left against the contact means 65 and 67 disposed to the left of the snap blade 117. The release of the plunger 124 will permit the spring means 106 to move the actuator 122 back to the left in FIG. 22 so that the end parts 118 will be snapped back to the right as illustrated in FIG. 22 to bridge the contacts 66 and 68 whereby it can be seen that the housing means 33 of this invention can accommodate snap blade arrangements other than the snap blade construction 30 previously described.

While the switch constructions of this invention have been previously described as having the plunger means 83 thereof operated by manual or mechanical means, it is to be understood that the switch construction of this invention can be modified to provide for pressure operation, temperature operation or other condition responsive operation thereof as desired.

For example, reference is now made to FIG. 24 wherein another switch construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 124 with parts thereof similar to the switch constructions previously described being indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter A".

As illustrated in FIG. 24, the switch construction 124 is pressure operated in that a pressure sensing unit, generally indicated by the reference numeral 125 is attached to the housing means 33A by a telescoping sleeve 126 having its righthand free end 127 turned over a shoulder means 128 of the housing means 33 to fasten the pressure responsive unit 125 to the housing means 33A.

The pressure sensing unit 125 includes a flexible diaphragm 129 having its outer periphery 130 held between two metallic members 131 and 132 with the member, 132 being attached to the sleeve 126 at its outer periphery. The member 132 has a central opening 133 passing therethrough and receiving a cupshaped member 134 which receives the plunger 83A in the open end 135 thereof so that the plunger 83A abuts against the closed end 136 of the cap-like member 134 on one side thereof and the closed end 136 of the cap member 134 abuts against the right-hand side of the flexible diaphragm 129 so as to follow movement thereof. A washer-like spring means 137 is disposed between the metallic member 132 and the cover member 54A of the housing means 33A so as to bias the cupshaped cap member 134 against the diaphragm 129.

The other metallic member 131 of the unit 125 carries'a retainer 138 adapted to be threadedly interconnected to a pressure source at an internally threaded portion 139 thereof so that the fluid pressure source can pass through the retainer 138 and an opening means 140 of the metallic member 131 to be imposed against the left-hand side of the flexible diaphragm 129 at a chamber 141 defined between the diaphragm 129 and the metallic member 131.

In this manner, as long as the pressure being applied to the chamber 141 of the unit 125 is less than the force of the compression spring 106A, the switch construction 124 remains in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 24 with the snap blade 31A bridging the contacts 66A and 68A. However, when the force of the pressure acting on the diaphragm 129 exceeds the force of the compression spring 106A, the diaphragm 129 moves to the right and carries the actuating member 32A therewith to snap the blade 31A over center in the manner previously described to cause the end parts 34A thereof to respectively bridge the other fixed contacts 65A and 67A until the pressure in the chamber 141 again falls below the force of the compression spring 106A opposing the same.

As illustrated in FIG. 25, another switch construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 142 and parts thereof similar to the other switch constructions of this invention are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter 3".

As illustrated in FIG. 25, the switch construction 142 includes the housing means 33B and snap blade construction 308 formed in the same manner as illustrated in FIG. 8. However, a temperature responsive unit 143 is coupled to the housing means 335 and comprises a cylindrical sleeve means 144 having its right-hand free end 145 turned over the shoulder means 128B of the housing means 338 to fasten the same thereto, the sleeve 144 having a shoulder means 146 abutting against the left-hand side of the cover member 543 to position the same relative to the housing means 338. An expansible and contractible bellows construction 147 is carried by the sleeve 144 and has one end 148 thereof coupled to a conduit means 149 which can be interconnected to a temperature sensing bulb so as the fluid in the temperature sensing bulb expands, the fluid pressure within the bellows construction 147 also expands and acts to move a movable wall 150 thereof to the right in FIG. 25 with the movable wall 150 being disposed in engagement with the plunger means 838 so that when the force of the expanding element 147 exceeds the force of the compression spring 106B, the actuator member 32B snaps the snap blade 318 over center to cause the end parts 348 thereof to move away from the fixed contacts 668 and 68B and into electrical contact with the contacts 658 and 6713 in the manner previously described.

Therefore, it can be seen that the switch constructions of this invention can be modified so as to be condition responsive or responsive to manual operation as desired with the various features thereof still remaining the same and with only slight modifications in the structure thereof, if any.

Another switch construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral in FIGS. 26 and 27 and parts thereof similar to the switch construction of FIG. 8 are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letterC".

As illustrated in FIGS. 26-28, the switch construction 160 includes the housing members 51C, 54C, cup-shaped plunger 83C, snap blade 31C, actuator member 32C, spring retainer 92C, range spring 106C, adjusting member 99C, hat-shaped member 96C and spring retainer 104C assembled together in a manner similar to the switch construction of FIG. 8.

However, the tongues or abutment means 85C of the plunger 83C are of a length so that when the shoulder 84C of the plunger member 83C is moved to the left by the range spring 106C, the plunger member 83C abuts against the flat surface 161 of the cover member 54C at a point where the abutment shoulder 85, FIG. 8, has been removed therefrom and the closed end wall 89C of the plunger 83C is spaced from the end 87C of the actuator member 32C as the shoulder 91C of the actuator member 32C is also abutting against the plate 108C of the spring retainer 92C as illustrated in FIGS. 26 and 27 regardless of whether the snap blade 31C has been snapped to the right as in FIG. 26 or to the left as illustrated in FIG. 27 as will be apparent hereinafter.

The spring retainers 92C and 104C are respectively provided with enlarged recesses 162 and 16 The reduced end or extension 90C of the actuating member 32C carries a spring retainer 164 against which one end 165 of a compression spring 166 abuts while the other end 167 of the compression spring 166 abuts against the spring retainer 92C whereby the force of the compression spring 166 always tends to maintain the shoulder 91C of the actuator member 32C in abutment with the plate portion 108C of the spring retainer 92C.

The adjusting member 99C has a bore 168 passing therethrough and telescopically receiving a reset pin 169 having its right-hand end 170 projecting beyond the adjusting member 99C and its other end 171 projecting beyond the spring retainer 104C and being enlarged so as to prevent the same from passing through the adjusting member 99C to the right as illustrated in the drawings as the enlarged end 171 will abut against the spring retainer 104C in the recess 163 thereof. However, the enlarged end 171 of the reset member 169 is adapted to abut against the end 90C of the actuator member 32C as illustrated in FIGS. 26 and 27.

The operation of the switch construction 160 and reset means 169 will now be described.

In the particular embodiment of the switch construction 160, the snap blade 31C when disposed in the position illustrated in FIG. 26 is bridging the terminal 66C with the terminal 68C so as to provide an electrical current path through the switch construction 160.

However, when the operator or the like desires to break the circuit between the tenninals 66C and 68C, the operator merely pushes inwardly on the cup-shaped plunger member 83C in the manner previously described to overcome the force of the range spring 106C and move the actuator member 32C to the right in FIG. 26 so as to cause the snap blade construction 31C to snap over center and have the opposed ends 42C and 43C thereof snap away from the terminals 66C and 68C and abut against the stops 110C of the cover member 54C.

When the operator releases the plunger member 83C after snapping the blade to its position illustrated in FIG. 27, the range spring 106C returns the plunger member 83C to its leftward position against the inside surface 161 of the cover member 54C and the small compression spring 166 maintains the shoulder 91C of the actuator member 32C against the spring retainer 92C in the manner illustrated in FIG. 27 which prevents the actuator member 32C from being moved back to the left a distance sufficient to resnap the snap blade construction 31C back over center whereby the snap blade construction 31C remains in a position illustrated in FIG. 27 with its opposed ends 42C and 43C respectively disposed against the stops 1 C of the cover member 54C. 9

Therefore, the switch construction 160 will have the snap blade 31C remain in the position of FIG. 27 unless the operator or the like utilizes the reset pin 169.

In particular, when it is desired to reset the switch construction 160 from the condition illustrated in FIG. 27, the operator pushes inwardly on the reset pin 169 to move the actuator member 32C to the left relative to the cup-shaped plunger member 83C, because of the space provided between the end 87C of the actuator member 32C and the end wall 89C of the cup-shaped plunger member 83C, in opposition to the force of the compression spring 166 and a distance sufficient to cause the opposed ends 42C and 43C of the snap blade 31C to snap to the right in FIG. 26 to again place the snap blade 31C in a position bridging the terminals 66C and 68C. When the operator releases the reset pin 169, the compression spring 166 again returns the actuator member 32C with its shoulder 91C against the spring retainer 92C in the manner illustrated in FIG. 26 and the opposed ends 42C and 43C of the snap blade 31C will remain in the position illustrated in FIG. 26 until the operator again pushes in on the plunger member 83C in the manner previously described.

Therefore, it can be seen that the switch construction 160 provides means for switching the operating condition thereof from one condition to another while requiring a reset action to switch the switch construction from that other operating condition back to its original operating condition.

This feature is provided by the abutment means 85C of the plunger 83C isolating the range spring 106C from the actuator 32C. However, the abutment means 85C can be shortened or be entirely removed from the plunger 32C to provide the plungers 32, 32A and 32B previously described for the automatic resetting action previously described for the switch constructions of FIGS. 8, 24 and 25. In this manner, one mold can be utilized to form the plunger 32C with its tongues or abutment means 85C of the proper length for the switch construction of FIG. 26 and the same mold could be utilized to form the plungers 32, 32A and 3213 with their abutments or tongues 85, 85A and 85B shortened as illustrated or completely removed therefrom either during the molding operation or subsequently thereto.

Thus, this invention not only provides improved electrical switch constructions, but also this invention provides improved parts for such switch constructions or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by statute, other forms may be used, all

coming within the scope of the claimed subject matter which follows.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical switch construction comprising a housing means, a snap blade carried by said housing means and having opening means passing therethrough, an actuator member interconnected to said snap blade to cause said blade to snap to difierent positions thereof as said actuator member is moved relative to said housing means, said actuator member being disposed in said opening means of said blade and having opposed ends extending from opposite sides thereof, a plunger member having an opening receiving one of said ends of said actuator member in the open end thereof and having abut ment means extending from said open end and being received in said opening means of said blade, said plunger member being engageable with said one end of saidactuator member to cause movement of said actuator member relative to said blade, said plunger member and said actuator member being so constructed and arranged that said plunger member can only cause said blade to snap from one position thereof to another position thereof upon movement of said plunger member relative to said housing means, and reset means carried by said housing means and being operatively interconnected to said snap blade to snap said blade from said other position thereof to said one position thereof.

2. An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing means has an opening passing therethrough, said plunger member having an end portion thereof projecting through said opening of said housing means so as to be accessible from the exterior of said housing means.

3. An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein said housing opening and said end portion of said plunger member have cooperating spline means for permitting axial movement therebetween and not rotational movement therebetween.

4. An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein a spring means is carried by said housing means and is operatively interconnected to said abutment means of said plunger member to tend to maintain said plunger in one position relative to said housing means whereby said snap blade is normally in one position thereof.

5. An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 4 wherein a spring retainer is carried by said other end of said actuator member and abuts against the same, said spring means having one end thereof bearing against said spring retainer to operatively interconnect said spring means to said actuator member.

6. An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 5 wherein anotherspring retainer is carried by saidhousing means, said spring means having the other end thereof bearing against said other spring retainer.

7. An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 6 wherein adjusting means is carried by said housing means and is operatively interconnected to said other spring retainer to adjust its position relative to said housing means whereby the force of said spring means tending to maintain said plunger member in said one position can be varied.

8. An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said snap blade has opposed end parts and two substantially longitudinally disposed side strips spaced from each other to define said opening means and being interconnected at each adjacent pair of ends thereof respectively to said end parts thereof, said side strips each carrying a transverse fulcrum strip directed toward the other fulcrum strip and being interconnected to said actuator member, said actuator member spreading apart said fulcrum strips and causing said fulcrum strips and said side strips to warp whereby said blade will snap between positions thereof as said actuator member is moved relative to said housing means.

9. An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reset means comprises a reset plunger means having one end thereof engageable with the other end of said actuator member.

10. An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 9 wherein spring means carried by said housing normally tends to maintain said plunger member and said actuator member in one position relative to said housing mans.

11. An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 10 wherein said one end of said actuator member is spaced from the closed end of said plunger member when said plunger member and said actuator member are in said one position thereof.

12. An electrical switch construction comprising a housing means, a snap blade carried by said housing means and having opening means passing therethrough, an actuator member interconnected to said snap blade to cause said blade to snap to different positions thereof as said actuator member is moved relative to said housing means, said actuator member being disposed in said opening means of said blade and having opposed ends extending from opposite sides thereof, a cup shaped plunger member receiving one of said ends of said actuator member in the open end thereof in a lost motion manner and being movable relative thereto to take up said lost motion therebetween, said plunger member having means engageable with said actuator member to move said actuator member and only cause said blade to snap from one position thereof to another position thereof upon movement of said plunger member relative to said housing means and relative to said actuator member to take up said lost motion therebetween, means operatively interconnected to said plunger member and said actuator member to tend to normally cause said lost motion condition between said plunger member and said actuator member, and reset means carried by said housing means and being operatively interconnected to said snap blade to snap said blade from said other position thereof to said one position thereof.

13. An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 12 wherein said reset means comprises a reset plunger means having one end thereof engageable with the other end of said actuator member.

14. An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 13 wherein spring means carried by said housing normally tends to maintain said plunger member and said actuator member in one position relative to said housing means.

15. An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 14 wherein said one end of said actuator member is spaced from the closed end of said plunger member when said plunger member and said actuator member are in said one position thereof.

16. An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 15 wherein said closed end of said plunger member comprises said means thereof that is engageable with said actuator member to move said actuator member. 

1. An electrical switch construction comprising a housing means, a snap blade carried by said housing means and having opening means passing therethrough, an actuator member interconnected to said snap blade to cause said blade to snap to different positions thereof as said actuator member is moved relative to said housing means, said actuator member being disposed in said opening means of said blade and having opposed ends extending from opposite sides thereof, a plunGer member having an opening receiving one of said ends of said actuator member in the open end thereof and having abutment means extending from said open end and being received in said opening means of said blade, said plunger member being engageable with said one end of said actuator member to cause movement of said actuator member relative to said blade, said plunger member and said actuator member being so constructed and arranged that said plunger member can only cause said blade to snap from one position thereof to another position thereof upon movement of said plunger member relative to said housing means, and reset means carried by said housing means and being operatively interconnected to said snap blade to snap said blade from said other position thereof to said one position thereof.
 2. An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing means has an opening passing therethrough, said plunger member having an end portion thereof projecting through said opening of said housing means so as to be accessible from the exterior of said housing means.
 3. An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 2 wherein said housing opening and said end portion of said plunger member have cooperating spline means for permitting axial movement therebetween and not rotational movement therebetween.
 4. An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein a spring means is carried by said housing means and is operatively interconnected to said abutment means of said plunger member to tend to maintain said plunger in one position relative to said housing means whereby said snap blade is normally in one position thereof.
 5. An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 4 wherein a spring retainer is carried by said other end of said actuator member and abuts against the same, said spring means having one end thereof bearing against said spring retainer to operatively interconnect said spring means to said actuator member.
 6. An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 5 wherein another spring retainer is carried by said housing means, said spring means having the other end thereof bearing against said other spring retainer.
 7. An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 6 wherein adjusting means is carried by said housing means and is operatively interconnected to said other spring retainer to adjust its position relative to said housing means whereby the force of said spring means tending to maintain said plunger member in said one position can be varied.
 8. An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said snap blade has opposed end parts and two substantially longitudinally disposed side strips spaced from each other to define said opening means and being interconnected at each adjacent pair of ends thereof respectively to said end parts thereof, said side strips each carrying a transverse fulcrum strip directed toward the other fulcrum strip and being interconnected to said actuator member, said actuator member spreading apart said fulcrum strips and causing said fulcrum strips and said side strips to warp whereby said blade will snap between positions thereof as said actuator member is moved relative to said housing means.
 9. An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reset means comprises a reset plunger means having one end thereof engageable with the other end of said actuator member.
 10. An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 9 wherein spring means carried by said housing normally tends to maintain said plunger member and said actuator member in one position relative to said housing mans.
 11. An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 10 wherein said one end of said actuator member is spaced from the closed end of said plunger member when said plunger member and said actuator member are in said one position thereof.
 12. An electrical switch construction comprising a housing means, a snap blade Carried by said housing means and having opening means passing therethrough, an actuator member interconnected to said snap blade to cause said blade to snap to different positions thereof as said actuator member is moved relative to said housing means, said actuator member being disposed in said opening means of said blade and having opposed ends extending from opposite sides thereof, a cup-shaped plunger member receiving one of said ends of said actuator member in the open end thereof in a lost motion manner and being movable relative thereto to take up said lost motion therebetween, said plunger member having means engageable with said actuator member to move said actuator member and only cause said blade to snap from one position thereof to another position thereof upon movement of said plunger member relative to said housing means and relative to said actuator member to take up said lost motion therebetween, means operatively interconnected to said plunger member and said actuator member to tend to normally cause said lost motion condition between said plunger member and said actuator member, and reset means carried by said housing means and being operatively interconnected to said snap blade to snap said blade from said other position thereof to said one position thereof.
 13. An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 12 wherein said reset means comprises a reset plunger means having one end thereof engageable with the other end of said actuator member.
 14. An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 13 wherein spring means carried by said housing normally tends to maintain said plunger member and said actuator member in one position relative to said housing means.
 15. An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 14 wherein said one end of said actuator member is spaced from the closed end of said plunger member when said plunger member and said actuator member are in said one position thereof.
 16. An electrical switch construction as set forth in claim 15 wherein said closed end of said plunger member comprises said means thereof that is engageable with said actuator member to move said actuator member. 